Rare flu-like virus on rise, with most cases in Japan

Here we go again - the annual ritualised pretence at doing something, and the annual inability to offer subway passengers the simple safeguard of soap with which to wash their hands during the commute.

Rhinovirus aside - how is it possible to reach the decision that taps will be infra-red activated, bogs and wee-troughs will flush automatically as the user steps away, but the tens of thousands who move their bowels can't have access to some soap after.

There will be coughing, sneezing, wiping and sniffing onto hands for the next six months, those hands will hold the handrails and transmit freely whatever germs are dripping from each orifice. And we'll all have to nod at meetings and pretend nothing more could be done.

If I experience the symptoms, I would just chalk it up to an asthma attack which I haven't experienced in years.

Thank you.

Some foreign media reported it as 'japanese' virus...can JT confirm or deny this?

Here we go again...

I think anti-flu vaccine will cost Yen 3000....or has it gone up?

As this is out of the US, I note that this is a P-R tactic which is similar to that used by the US federal government at tax time (15 April). A few months prior they issue stories about tax cheats who have been tried and imprisoned, all to ratchet up fear and assure compliance. In this case, the fear are germs, and the CDC and health complex in general wants to keep those vaccines flowing.

JUST as the mask companies were seeing a decline in sales!

pharmaceuticals related businesses can't get by selling just headache and cold medicines

I completely agree with Ivan, no hand soap in the public bathrooms here in Tokyo and I guess the rest of Japan is so stupid. The politicians are probably buying the best imported soaps from England, France etc..while, we the working class have to pay for our trains etc..and if we need to WASH our hands we are just lucky to have water, but no towels, no paper towels and as Ivan stated NO SOAP! By the way can someone translate what the Aussie said?? Dunny?? Dicky Ticker?? Wakarani ne!

It's great that many Japanese people wear masks when they are sick but the ones who don't don't even know how to cover their mouth when they cough or grab a tissue (or at the very least turn the other way) when they sneeze. Learn some freekin manners people!

oops... I should have said many people who don't wear masks don't know how to cover their mouth blah blah blah. Some do.

NO Soap or paper towels ??? That is a horror, Too many Germs can get spread that way.

The no soap thing disgusts me, so I bring my own.

Use the restroom paper towel to hold the faucet and door handles.

dicky ticker - bad heart/ heart problems Dunny - Toilet

People still go into work and school while they are unwell, due to pressure at work/school to do so. It would be better if people were encouraged to stay home if they were sick and not pass around their germs.